“What I am telling you, before you begin my story, is this—two things: I crave truth. And I lie.” -Rob Ryan.

For those of us who are ferocious readers, we absolutely love it when we are introduced to an author who can capture our interest from the first chapter of each book and never loses it. Tana French is that type of author because of her character development and detailed plot structure. I cannot remember how I was introduced to her work, but I can tell you that I quickly read all her books, starting with In the Woods. Luckily, In the Woods happens to be the first book in a series called the Dublin Murder Squad. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but some of the characters develop and build through the series, so I highly recommend reading them in order.

In The Woods is a masterfully written murder mystery that will have you guessing who dunnit at every turn and keep you guessing until the bitter end. In fact, there has been much online discussion regarding the ending of this book, but only look at that information once you have read the book.

The story is told from the first-person perspective of Rob Ryan, a Dublin homicide detective. He and his partner and best friend, Cassie Maddox, are called to a crime scene to investigate the murder of a 12-year-old girl whose body was found in the woods on an altar at an archaeological dig site. This dig is taking place so a motorway can be built, and many people are upset about the motorway coming through Knocknaree, an imaginary suburb of Dublin.

You are soon introduced to a plot twist. This is the same spot in these woods where, twenty-plus years ago, 12-year-old Adam Rob Ryan was playing with two of his friends when they disappeared. The two boys were never seen again, and their bodies were never found. Adam has no memories of what happened in the woods other than when he was found pressed against a tree, and his shoes were filled with blood.

Adam now goes by his middle name, Rob, and no one is aware of his past, not even Cassie. He does not tell his supervisors about his connection to these woods and the tragedy that struck all those years ago. As he and Cassie investigate this murder, the past truly haunts Rob, impacting the investigation and his relationship with Cassie. French does a beautiful job of showing Rob’s secret’s impact on his mental state.

The characters of Rob and Cassie are so well-written that I found myself invested in their relationship. Additionally, French made me feel like I was transported to Ireland while reading the book, and I want to visit soon. I love a book that easily ties you to the characters and setting.  

I hope you enjoy this book and the Dublin Murder Squad novels as much as I did. Let me know what you think about the book.

Dublin Murder Squad Books in Order

• In the Woods
• The Likeness
• Fathful Place
• Broken Harbour
• The Secret Place
• The Trespasser